What can I say?  2008 comes to an end and we usher in 2009.  2008 was the year on changes, of tolerance, of patience, of waiting, of reunions, sadness, and fibery projects.

Changes:

The kids grew through the roof.  Seriously, how much can one boy grow in a year?  When Jim left in 2007, our middle boy was shorter then Jim.  Now 13 months later, he’s exploded and while not yet 13 (almost) he’s grown over a foot, his voice changed, and he keeps growing.  Oldest son and daughter also changed before my eyes as well as youngest daughter.  Youngest son is getting there and I predict 2009 will be the year of his changes.

Tolerance & Patience:

Let’s just say it was hard to deal with some of the things I had to deal with “on my own” while Jim was gone, but that’s where it paid off being tolerant and patient.   God surely was my refuge and strength even when I didn’t see it.

Waiting:

Um yeah…every day was a waiting game until Jim returned.  It was never fun waiting, but personal growth couldn’t happen without that waiting.

Reunions:

Not just one but a few!  Jim came home twice (once on R&R and then for good), my friend’s husband also came home as well as many other spouses.

Sadness:

Saying goodbye to friends who left due to military moves or marriages ending.

Fibery Project:

129 documented finished projects in 2008.

WEAVING

• 10 Bags/Totes
• 7 items of Clothing
• 4 Shawls
• 45 Scarves
• 3 Roving Rugs
• 5 Dishtowels

KNITTING

• 11 pairs of Mittens or Fingerless Mitts
• 25 Hats
• 11 pairs of Socks (mostly kids for charity)
• 1 Scarf
• 7 Sweaters

Wow! That’s a lot.  I didn’t document any finished spun skeins and will do that for the coming year but several skeins were spun up as well many painted skeins.  Will 2009 be as productive?  I don’t know.  I am sleeping much better these days now that the daddy-man is home.  However, I do have a few things I want to try in 2009 so stay tuned……………….

After pulling out a new pair of knitted socks the other day I realized I had never woven in the strand of yarn at the toe.  It made for an incredible way to tease the cat:

My apologies to anyone who has visited my website lately and was redirected to a website other then my own.  My website was hijacked and some visitors redirected to a website that does not reflect the beliefs or me or my family.

My website related email is still down, but at least I can sign into my blog right now.  I have continued to have problems off and on, so please bear with me.

Thank you all so much for your patience and understanding if you were one of the ones redirected to the “other” website.

How does your garden grow?

One felted flower at a time of course.

This is a Noni Forget Me Not Felted Flower pattern from the Spring 2007 Collection.  Kelly sent me this pattern for my birthday and it’s a tribute to those who have struggled with breast cancer.  I have this idea in my head that I will weave a bag and attach some felted forget me nots to it and donate it for the Cancer Walk auction in 2009.

More flowers are being made today so there should be a small garden growing by the end of the week.

The kids asked if we could head to the mall so they could spend the gift cards from Grandpa.  Neither Jim, nor I, were thrilled about heading to the mall the day after Christmas.  Then Jim heard a story on the news about poor retail sales and big sales.  So we braved the crowds (or so we thought) and went.  Our first stop, K-Mart…..nearly no one there.  Then to the mall.  While people where there, it seemed more like your normal every day weekend kind of crowd.  The kids all had Aeropostale gift cards and I had printed out some internet coupons for an extra 10.00 off (if you purchased 40.00 or more).  While the kids shopped and/or were in line, I handed out the extra coupons I had to people who looked like they had a lot of items.  It was amazing to see the expressions on their faces when I just handed them a coupon for no reason.  After there we headed to Sears and then home.  When the mail arrived for the day, there were more gift cards to Wal Mart (thanks Aunt Karen and Uncle Chris)  So I agreed to take the kids to Wal Mart after lunch.  Again not so busy.  But we soon left with full bags and empty gift cards.

All in all it was a good day, but I did notice deeper discounts at the mall stores and not much discounting (except on seasonal items) at the “mart” stores.

Kids are playing the Wii this morning and I am looking at starting a second pot of coffee.

Perhaps even some weaving might get done this weekend, but I am not counting on it.

Christmas here, is orderly.  Some may think that’s not cool and totally cruel (ahem…Mr T-man) but we’ve found it’s the best way to deal with the choas.  The kids know exactly what to expect and that’s a good thing for them.

So….we start out with a breakfast of store bought ooey donuts and coffee (for adults) and hot chocolate (for the kids)

This year Jim was home and he took charge of handing out stockings, presents, and pictures from here on out.  And let me just say here, it was SOOOOOO awesome to have him home for Christmas this year!

Stockings were handed out.

and enjoyed

Let the gift giving begin!  The kids really liked their hand knit hats and gloves and woven scarves

And were totally blown away at the Guitar Praise and the Wii games.

I loved my present from my Secret Pal (an ikat scarf kit from Margaret’s Heritage Yarns in the moonlight sonata colorway.  THANK YOU SECRET PAL!!!!!!)

Jim loved his new Ohio State University jacket and his handwoven scarf

But did say down with the University of Georgia Bulldogs freezer cup that was a gag gift from Kelly (sort of)

Then it was time to set up the Wii

and the Guitar Praise

And then the playing began

Then it was time to eat.

After dinner, more game playing ensued and we all fell into bed sleepy and satisfied.  I hope your day was a good one too.

Quick Gingerbread

2 1/4 cups of flour

1/2 cup sugar (or the Splenda equivalent)

3 tsp ginger

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 cup water

1 stick butter (softened)

1/2 cup molassess

3 eggs

—–

preheat oven to 325°

mix all ingredients on low.  Pour into 9 x 13 pan (or mini loaf pan) and back for 25 minutes or until cake tester inserted in middle comes out clean

Merry Christmas from our house to you!

Wow…what a crazy few days we’ve had.  Craziness I tell ya. Ok, probably not that bad, just a series of weird events.

Sunday I went to press my 5 finished scarves and my iron melted onto my ironing board.  The plastic on the bottom had melted and there was ooey gooey plastic on the ironging board cover.  The iron was less then a year old too.  So, no finished scarves to show off until I went to the store for a new iron.  Had planned to go first thing Monday morning, but well the kid’s sink backed up again and we had to wait for the plumber.  He was supposed to be out before noon.  Around 4:30 hubby called to find out when they would be here, and oops….”We’ll be right there”.  They did fix it and had to snake down really really far (last time it was about 25 feet but this time I don’t know how far they had to go).  I did get an iron later Monday afternoon but didn’t get to use it Monday night.

Yesterday was Christmas Adam in our house.  That means sleeping out under the tree all night long.  I must admit that I think this year is the final year we will do this.  We HAD to do it this year since last year we did not have daddy here with us.  So, after the kids really went to sleep (and not faking it in these pictures):

and just the light from the tree was on:

Jim and I tip toed to our bed for a semi decent night’s sleep.  He had to be up early this morning for work.  The kids are just getting too big and our living rooms just never seem big enough anymore.

FINISHED OBJECTS

Knitting Projects

My final Just Josh! hat for the year.

And my gradient green scarf:

Weaving Projects

Finally here are the 5 finished scarves:

All were woven using the same bamboo warp and same threading and treadling.  I just changed weft yarns and tie ups between scarves.

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

And on this Christmas Eve Day I shall be working on this…..

Rainbow Placemats

Hope you all have a stress free day today.

Today it’s cold.  Really cold.  That somehow roused the spirit of insanity with the children (or perhaps it’s all the sugary snacks of late, or the thought of Christmas….or something).  While Jim was “supposed” to be in the office building a warping valet for my loom and “only came out for a quick drink”, the kids attacked.

Reinforcements got called in:

The dog even got involved in trying to take dad down

He was down for a moment

But soon recovered

Thankfully the slipper was only stolen and not thrown (although she did recently learn that move by watching shoes being thrown at the president this past week)

And somehow this photojournalist was the one that ended up handcuffed.  However you can’t quell freedom of the press!

The threat of future action is great so we must be on guard throughout the day.  I do hope your day is calmer then ours has been so far.